Apex Tactical M&P Trigger Components

If you’ve been around guns for very long, there’s a good chance you’ve come across a Smith & Wesson M&P. The Smith & Wesson M&P is, in my opinion, one of the best polymer handguns on the market. Like all things in life, however, it has a weakness: the trigger.

Much has been written and said about the stock trigger on the M&P, so I won’t reiterate in detail here. Personally, I don’t think the stock trigger is completely horrible, but it’s certainly not above average, and it doesn’t fit into what is otherwise an exceptional handgun (word on the street is that S&W is fixing it). If you’re familiar with the M&P trigger, you can probably guess that my biggest complaint is the trigger reset, which is to say, there really isn’t one. This is where Apex Tactical comes in.

This kit costs $80, and fixes the common complaints with the M&P trigger, giving it a ~5 lb. trigger pull (mine is just a hair under 5 lbs), and an audible and tactile trigger reset. The reset isn’t quite a “GET THERE NOW” feel like you get with a Glock. Instead, it’s more subtle and feels great. Once you get used to the pull and reset, accurate rapid fire is much easier.

AEK Trigger

The AEK trigger is machined from aluminum and is a direct replacement for the factory M&P trigger. Â It can be used in conjunction with any of the Apex kitsÂ as well as any configuration from the S&W factory. The kit includes:

Trigger and Trigger Assembly

Slave pin

Sear spring (to be used in conjunction with the DCAEK, otherwise not needed)

Depending on who you ask, the AEK trigger is either absolutely essential or not worth the price of $75. I lean heavily towards the essential side of the equation. The AEK trigger has a flat face with a center mounted pivoting safety bar, similar to a Glock trigger. This trigger has a completely different feel from the Glock trigger though, and in a good way.

Impressions

I am extremely pleased with my Apex Tactical components. Since installation, several people have shot my M&P and so far, everyone agrees that it’s fantastic, which makes me feel better about spending $160 to fix the M&P trigger (everyone loves validation). Seriously though, I love this trigger.

My accuracy is also somewhat improved. There’s no doubt that you can shoot a stock M&P accurately, but I don’t think it’s much of a stretch for me to say that a good trigger improves accuracy.

Wrapping Up

I definitely recommend Apex Tactical to anyone looking to improve upon the shortcomings in the M&P trigger system. In hindsight, I wouldn’t change anything about what I chose for this M&P. The DCAEK by itself is great, but add in the AEK trigger, and it’s simply fantastic.

As far as modifying your carry gun trigger, there are passionate arguments on both sides of the debate. Personally I think you should do whatever you want/need to do to your gun to make you a better shooter. If that involves tweaking the trigger, so be it, as long as you haven’t sacrificed reliability. Perhaps I’ll write a post on this topic…

No reason other than I had V&C Industries complete the installation for me when they had the gun apart for Cerakoting, and I think this is just what they had in stock. I haven’t used the FSS kit, but my understanding is that it would have been a way to get to the same place in one kit.